igneous or sedimentary

Wishing Stone (Basalt or Chert with Quartz Veins)

Basalt or microcrystalline Quartz (Chert) with localized hydrothermal Quartz (SiO2) veining

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Dull olive green matrix with white/off-white linear veins, Luster: Dull/Waxy, Structure: Cryptocrystalline matrix with crystalline vein fill, Cleavage: None/Conchoidal

Hardness: 6

Identified June 25, 2026More igneous or sedimentary →

Explore Wishing Stone (Basalt or Chert with Quartz Veins) in the encyclopedia →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through volcanic activity (if basalt) or silica deposition (if chert). The white lines are formed by hydrothermal fluids filling fractures with quartz or calcite over millions of years, often smoothed by river or beach erosion.

Uses & applications

Decorative item, lucky charm (folk belief), pocket stone, and lapidary material for tumbling and polishing.

Geological facts

In folklore, a stone with a single white line that encircles the entire rock is called a 'Wishing Stone.' It is believed that if you make a wish on the stone and throw it into the water or give it away, the wish may come true.

Field identification & locations

Identify by looking for a continuous, contrasting white line running through a darker, water-worn pebble. Commonly found on beaches in the Pacific Northwest, New England, and the United Kingdom.